Predicting Dodgers and Yankees' MLB 2024 playoffs starting rotations ft. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Marcus Stroman

The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have won the AL and the NL respectively. As such, the clubs will qualify for byes in the first round and await the outcome of the wild card series to see their opponents.

With the 2024 MLB playoffs a day away, managers across the game will be looking to their starting rotation. As any casual fan knows, apt pitching is more than crucial in the playoffs; it is the difference-maker.

In the MLB playoffs, it is common for teams to go with four-man rotations, allowing the fifth starter to operate out of the bullpen on a situational basis. Today, we will be profiling the most likely starting pitching composition of the Yankees and the Dodgers in the MLB playoffs.

Yankees and Dodgers pitching rotations ahead of 2024 MLB playoffs

New York Yankees

With a rotation ERA of 3.85 in 2024, the Yankees ranked 11th in MLB in the category. The club weathered injuries, such as the one incurred by Gerrit Cole in spring training, largely by relying on a strong corps in Triple-A. Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt were solid examples of this.

However, with the postseason here, expect some of those former relievers to return to the bullpen, leaving space for the below composition:

• Gerrit Cole
• Nestor Cortes
• Carlos Rodon
• Marcus Stroman

Of the above names, Stroman has struggled most significantly this season. He is 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 starts, and his 1.47 ERA is the highest on the rotation. Although Gil's figures were better in basically the same number of innings, picking Stroman makes sense for a few reasons.

"Marcus Stroman, Nasty 82mph Slurve." - Pitching Ninja

Firstly, 2024 was Gil's first season as an MLB starter. While he performed well, his playoff experience is still inferior to Stroman's, who played in some high-stakes playoff games a decade ago as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Walks are also a concern for Gil, who posted an AL-high 77 during the season. Gil's position alongside Clarke Schmidt as a long-term reliever or even the starting arm for a bullpen game appears to be a preferable arrangement.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have been hammered with late-season pitching injuries that have left at least a part of their fanbase worried. Gavin Stone, Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow will all miss the postseason as the roughly $10 million that the team is spending on those arms goes down the drain.

Walker Buehler is back from injury, but after going 1-6 with a 5.38 in 16 games since returning, it might be understandable if manager Dave Roberts is tepid to use him in a starting role.

Expect the Dodgers' rotation to look as follows:

• Jack Flaherty
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto
• Landon Knack

Before hitting the IL in June, Yamamoto was 6-1 with a 2.51 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 68 innings. Since returning on Sept. 10, the Japanese ace is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings.

"Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Wicked Splitters...and Sword." - Pitching Ninja

While the change is not exactly drastic, it still might be a point of concern for LA, which is staring down a shaky starting situation. At least Flaherty, who came via a July trade with the Detroit Tigers, is 6-2 with a 3.58 since joining the team.

The reality of the Dodgers' pitching situation has also led some to ponder whether or not Shohei Ohtani will be given the green light to pitch. Ohtani was shut down from throwing after surgery last season. Although focusing on hitting has delivered some incredible results for Ohtani, his poise on the mound could now be needed even more.